Longwan Group National Forest Park

Longwan Group National Forest Park

Longwan Group National Forest Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

Longwan Group National Forest Park is located in Huinan County in the southeastern part of Jilin Province, on the western foothills of the Changbai Mountain Range, within the central section of the Longgang Mountain Range of the Changbai Mountain system, and features a continental monsoon climate. The park covers an area of 8,102 hectares, including 6,780 hectares of forest, 227 hectares of water bodies, and 1,095 hectares of other areas. In 1992, it was approved by the Ministry of Forestry as the "Triangle Dragon Bay National Forest Park," and in 1999, it was renamed "Jilin Longwan Group National Forest Park." The park consists of ten major scenic areas known as the "Seven Bays, One Waterfall, and Two Peaks," namely: Big Dragon Bay, Second Dragon Bay, Small Dragon Bay, Triangle Dragon Bay, East Dragon Bay, South Dragon Bay, Dry Dragon Bay, Diaoshuihu Waterfall, Golden Dragon Peak, and Square Peak.

Huinan County boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, numerous historical sites, rich tourism resources, and convenient transportation, with the Shenyang–Jilin Railway running diagonally across the county. The mountainous areas in the eastern part of the county are part of China’s largest volcanic group — the volcanic cluster of the Longgang Mountain Range. Around 600,000 years ago, frequent and intense volcanic activity in this region formed numerous volcanic crater lakes. The cluster of volcanic crater lakes distributed within Huinan Longwan Group National Forest Park has become an important resource underpinning the development of tourism in Huinan County. The park features unique and spectacular scenery, especially the renowned "Triangle Dragon Bay," which is hailed as the “Pearl of the Longgang Mountain Range.”

Related Research

A Longwan is a high-altitude lake formed by ancient volcanic eruptions during geological epochs. In ancient Chinese folklore and legends, it is depicted as a unique dwelling place for dragons, evoking a sense of mystery and breathtaking beauty. The seven Longwans, arranged in a pattern strikingly similar to the Big Dipper, have an average depth of about 50 meters, with the deepest reaching 126 meters. Their azure waters are like jade, and each bay presents distinct forms and landscapes, resembling scattered pearls nestled among towering mountains and ridges. The number, concentration, diversity of forms, and degree of preservation of these bays rank first in China. According to preliminary verification by relevant departments, the Longwan group is currently the largest discovered cluster of volcanic crater lakes in China.

Development Value

Longwan Group National Forest Park boasts both the grand and spectacular volcanic landforms and diverse wetland landscapes; it features culturally rich architectural structures as well as enchanting and mysterious legends. Here, you can experience the fusion of water and fire and feel the passion between scenery and emotion. The wonders and marvels encapsulate the essence of landscapes from around the world. Longwan is gaining fame both domestically and internationally for its unique volcanic heritage resources and abundant forest ecological resources. Its primitive, simple, and natural beauty holds tremendous potential for development.